Chapter 14 of White Nights, and Other Stories is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIV
Chapter 14 of White Nights, and Other Stories is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"'The first of April! Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her. Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen! No, I won't tell you." "Nonsense!
Chapter 14 of White Nights, and Other Stories is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading “"'The first of April!”
cause fear in
From this reading “Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.”
possessive form of “grandmother” — the mother of your father or mother
From this reading “Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.”
plural of “hide” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
From this reading “Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.”
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading “"Nonsense!”
plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
From this reading “Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.”
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading “Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.”
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading “Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
to consider or examine in speech or writing
In this reading “Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!”
In this reading “Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.”
In this reading “Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.”
In this reading “Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!”
In this reading “Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading "'The first of April!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "'The first of April!
cause fear in
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!
possessive form of “grandmother” — the mother of your father or mother
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
plural of “hide” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!
and nothing more
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
not any; not one
From this reading No, I won't tell you."
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading "Nonsense!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "'The first of April!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!
plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!
express in words
From this reading No, I won't tell you."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "'The first of April!
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
which person or people
From this reading Many happy returns of the day, Fedosey Nikolaitch!' just like a silly school-boy who hides behind his grandmother's arm-chair and then shouts 'oof' into her ear suddenly at the top of his voice, meaning to frighten her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, I won't tell you."
an affirmative
From this reading Yes ... yes, I feel quite ashamed to talk about it, gentlemen!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading No, I won't tell you."
Chapter 14 of White Nights, and Other Stories by Fyodor Dostoyevsky holds 401 sentences, grouped into 81 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 14 holds 401 sentences of White Nights, and Other Stories, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 14 of White Nights, and Other Stories by Fyodor Dostoyevsky exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 401 sentences, grouped into 81 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 81 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading White Nights, and Other Stories by Fyodor Dostoyevsky on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 6819 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #36034 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #36034, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 568 minutes of reading across 1364 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through White Nights, and Other Stories section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 16 chapters of White Nights, and Other Stories to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in White Nights, and Other Stories, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
